BURLINGTON — Beginning June 15 and for a limited time, the American Red Cross is testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies, providing donors insight into whether they have been exposed to COVID-19.
At the same time, there continues to be an urgent need for blood donations as hospitals resume surgeries and treatments that require blood products.
Antibody testing will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Donations will be tested using samples pulled at the time of donation and sent to a testing laboratory where they will also undergo routine infectious disease testing. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity.

In Addison County and surrounding areas, upcoming blood drives will be held in Middlebury on Saturday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Middlebury Rec. Center, 154 Creek Road, and on Wednesday, June 25, from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at the Counseling Services of Addison Co., 109 Catamount Park.
There will be a drive in Brandon on Monday, June 22, from noon-5 p.m., at the Brandon American Legion, 550 Franklin Street.
COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within seven to 10 days in the Red Cross Blood

Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. The test has been authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test.
Donation appointments can be made by downloading the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800- RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. All those who give between now and June 30 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email.

BLOOD DRIVE SAFETY
To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, individuals who do not feel well or who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should postpone their donation.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions — including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff — have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.